Year: 2015

This Good News

Mark 8:34-35 NLT
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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I enjoy comparing translations. The KJV uses the word gospel in verse 35. And both are a reference to the Greek euaggelion (Strong’ G2098).

This Greek word has meanings of:

1) a reward for good tidings

2) good tidings

Expanded deeper as:

A) the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God

B) the glad tidings of salvation through Christ

C) the proclamation of the grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ

D) the gospel

E) as the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings

And when you consider that these are Jesus’ words, doesn’t it make sense that He would be speaking of this “good news” and “glad tidings” that He brings the world?

He didn’t just bring the world a religion of law and condemnation, but He brought the good news of mercy, forgiveness, love, and salvation. This Good News offers something that was not apparent to man in the written law. Men read the law and tried to obtain salvation through their own works, through their own striving to meet the requirements of the law – and failed.

But Christ is the Good News, He is the salvation. His grace is sufficient.

And all who accept this gift of grace by faith will receive salvation.

By faith, not by striving. Not by works. Not by the law, but through Christ.

Salvation is the reward we receive, both a free gift from God, and payment in full that far surpasses the value of any worthless works we claim as our own.

For if we are saved, and renewed, it is not our works, but His work manifest through us as a willing vessel. This is so we have no right to boast or compare ourselves to others. Because we all deserve the same fate, and that is death.
Anything we receive other than death is a gift, not earned, but accepted in faith.

So let’s give up these childish fantasies of earning our way into heaven, or doing enough to keep ourselves out of hell.

Let’s give up the tactics of scaring people into claiming a name under the duress of fear of punishment just so we can add another notch onto our “souls converted” belt.

If we say that Christ is our teacher, let’s grow to speak and act as He spoke and acted. But, yes. Unfortunately, there are some that love the law more than they love Christ. I too appreciate the law in the light of Christ, but I am under grace.

I was under the law up to that point that Christ came to live in my heart. I was under that law while I was in rebellion against God. And while I was under that law, I fought against it and I hated it, and I resisted it.

But now I am under grace, and I see the beauty of the law as it is meant to be. But the law in its faded glory has no comparison to the glory of Jesus Christ, my risen Savior.

So Jesus Christ is my teacher, and the law played a supporting roll in His glory. But Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life – and His grace is sufficient. Not so that I might be free to continue in sin, no. If that is what is heard, you do not hear my voice, but a twisting of my words.

Grace is freedom from sin. And when we know freedom, who wants to return to slavery?

And isn’t it my attitude, my heart that God examines, and doesn’t it guide my decisions and actions?

So who has faith –

Someone who wants to sin in their heart and to rebel against God but hides it so others won’t see?

Someone who wants to be free from sin and seeks God’s will but stumbles in ways visible to others?

Matthew 21:28-32 ESV
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

We give up our lives to Christ through a broken, contrite, humble spirit – accepting that this salvation is not earned by what we do, but received through faith – through belief that only Good can offer forgiveness for the sinful life we have lived in rebellion and opposition to His will and His guidance for our lives. We do this by asking for forgiveness, through belief in the promise of grace and mercy and forgiveness extended to us through Jesus Christ.

And then we find that it isn’t a religion of rules – that is there for condemning the unveiled – while this Holy Spirit of Christ in us is now present to convict us and teach us and guide us –

in a renewed life of purpose, of repentance, of fruitfulness, of faithful preparation, and of humble service in His Kingdom.

There are those that will read this and use the argument about who is greatest or least in the Kingdom of God. Isn’t it clear that if everyone receives the same equal payment that those who thought themselves first would now consider themselves last and those that considered themselves last would see that they are first?

If you expect that you have “earned” a place at the front of the line, be careful not to be upset when that homeless sinner is standing equal before God.

And if you consider yourself the last worthy, how much more radiant will your joy be when you find yourself in glory beside your fellow saints?

Because is it better that I be considered the least in the Kingdom and share this Good News and grace abundantly – caring more about the fate of my brother’s and sisters?

Or is it better that I make it difficult for my brother’s and sisters so that I might earn a spot of greater preference in the kingdom?

Matthew 5:19 ESV
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

So let us all be satisfied by our own works and our own measure of faith.

And the unfaithful would say, but if we aren’t going to earn anything more for our works, then why would we work?

If you work, it is either in vain as your own works, or it is your due if you consider yourself under the law. But who can meet the requirements of the law?

So I encourage you to find grace.

I work under grace because I am grateful, I am renewed, and I am repentant. I am a willing vessel equipping myself for His use – just in case He sees fit to use me.

Matthew 20:1-16 ESV
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.”

So you ask me if I have counted the cost?

And you say, but why would you pay a cost, why would you go through persecution? Why would you face being martyred if it came to that?

And I answer with the only reason there has ever been that is strong enough to inspire a man of flesh and blood to such courage –

Love.

A hired hand will abandon the sheep in times of trouble, and he will run for fear of his own life.

But the good shepherd looks after the sheep and is willing to lay down his own life. This is the way of Christ, this the life example of Christ, this is the truth of His love.

John 10:7-18 ESV
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Don’t misunderstand. I do not call myself the Christ, but He is my teacher.

Luke 6:40 ESV
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

I simply use this as a proof to explain why teachers should be in this for love and not to “earn favor” – because one is a disciple and the other is a hired hand.

This was a pretty cool lesson for me, because it put so many things in a different light for me. I don’t know that it offers any help to anyone else, because it is mainly me chasing a rabbit – but it really helped me put some of the pieces together for the first time.

Vain discussion

Who is a sinner?

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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I heard a conversation recently that this Scripture reminded me of tonight.

It was a question about “What is a sinner?” This question was asked on the program “Ask the Pastor”.

The discussion revolved around the table until at one point, it turned into a discussion about being a saint versus being a sinner. At the end, only one of the pastors held firm to the assertion that we must be careful to not separate ourselves from the idea of being a sinner, because of the pride that it could allow us to slip into – while the rest of the panel held to “once we are saints, we may sin, but we are no longer sinners” and literally gave each other high fives for their answers. I could see the humbleness and reverence of God in the one man’s face and his almost shock in the behavior that accompanied the others’ answers. I tried not to see their actions at the moment as prideful, but it didn’t sit right with me, even though I moved on and didn’t focus on it at the time.

I had long forgotten about that moment until I read this scripture tonight. Paul, an apostle, here in his letter to Timothy, in this, a letter to a young pastor where he would be carefully choosing and weighing every word for how it might be received by its intended audience – he calls himself a sinner. And he doesn’t just call himself a sinner, but he makes the claim that he is the foremost sinner.

This is the example that Paul gives in his guidance for this new pastor – An example of a humble and contrite sinner saved by grace. He doesn’t warn him to never call himself a sinner and to only consider himself a bold and renewed saint. No, he gives the clear explanation of himself as a sinner. And he says it in the present tense, not in the past tense. And yes, this is clearly after he had proven himself as a Holy Spirit filled apostle of Jesus Christ, who was chosen and called.

So being a saint and being a sinner are not mutually exclusive. This is because being a saint is about accepting Jesus Christ into our hearts through faith. This is a change within our spirit, that part inside us that guides and controls us. Being a sinner is part of our flesh, it is part of our “human/flesh nature”. It is a result of the desires of our bodies.

So if we are only driven by our bodies and are not yet renewed in our spirits, we are sinners.

If we are renewed in our spirits, but are also still in our earthly bodies, we are both saints (in spirit) and sinners (in flesh).

Once we are out of these bodies and with the Lord in spirit (to be absent of the flesh is to be with the Lord) – we are then purely saints.

And once we are saints free from these bodies, we will receive new bodies free from the sin that corrupts these current bodies.

The only way for this to happen, is for us to accept and receive this renewed Holy Spirit while we have an opportunity while living in the flesh bodies we have now. We do this by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, by calling on His name for forgiveness and salvation. It isn’t our works, it isn’t our attending church, it isn’t any of the religious practices that earns our salvation.

The things we do after receiving our salvation are no longer done for ourselves (because our salvation is complete), but they are done for the benefit of others. Because if we believe and have received, we will love others and want to share this gift with them as well. If we do not love others, we should examine ourselves and be sure of our salvation, because if we don’t have love, we don’t have Christ.

So let’s call on the name of Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Let’s be assured of our salvation by our faithful service.
Let’s have grateful faith that we are saints because His promises are true.
Let’s remember that we are still sinners in this flesh – remembering the humble and contrite heart of repentance that God desires.
Let’s remember that the Christ in us is stronger than the disease of sin in our flesh, and He can overcome the sinful desires of our flesh when we lean to Him as our strength.
Let’s remember that our renewed lives are about being an equipped and ready vessel for Him to use to serve and touch the lives of others around us.

Who is my brother?

Forgiven or Unforgiven

Exodus 34:7 NLT
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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Yes. There are only two places that we can be. We are either forgiven or unforgiven. There is no middle ground.

Even in this the original covenant, God proves His never changing nature – He is merciful, gracious, long suffering, good and true to those that are His:

Exodus 34:6 KJV
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord , The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

And He proves this throughout history as He is willing to be patient with those who receive Him, even forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
Psalm 78 gives us a history and view of God’s patient love and guidance in the example of His dealings with Israel, and it is the same with us today.

If we are a child of God –

As we walk closer to God as His chosen and redeemed, we are not only forgiven, we encounter the blessings and purpose that are our God ordained life as a part of His Kingdom. And this new life will have lasting and positive impacts on our family for generations to come. If my daughter sees an example of love, patience, peace, faithfulness, and goodness in my life instead of selfishness, anger, dishonesty, and wickedness – isn’t it clear how much of a difference that is going to have for generations to come?

But if we only follow in our words, but not in our actions – what kind of example does that teach?

Or if we are satisfied to live lives without love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, long suffering, or self control – are we blind to the consequences? Or do we not care about anything beyond self, no matter the cost or consequences?

If we were unveiled to the impact that we have on those around us by our choices – whether for good or for evil, would we care enough to make real change in our lives?

And we start making real change in our lives with a broken spirit. Acknowledging this problem, this disease in our lives, and coming to God and asking for His forgiveness and c His help.

Psalm 51:16-17 ESV
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Let’s remember that our choices have real consequences, friends – and those consequences don’t just affect ourselves.

Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Draw near to Him, get to know Him. See change in your life by not just learning, but being convicted to change your life and make choices that are for good. And see the positive change in yourself AND in those around you AND those that look to you as their example.

I love you friend. This message was for me, but if it helps you in any way, praise be to God. Have a wonderful day, and I encourage you to let the world see Christ in you.

Love or Like?

JER 29:13 ESV
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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We all should know the difference between loving someone and liking someone.

If we love someone, we want to spend time with them, we want to get to know them, and we want to grow closer to them in a personal relationship. We want to see them or talk to them everyday and to share time together.

If we just like someone, we will see them occasionally when we get together with friends. We might hang out around them once a week when the crew gets together at the local hangout, and even then, our focus is only partly on spending time with them, because we have so many other friends around us.

The same is true with God. If we aren’t seeking time with Him, how can we say that we love Him – when our actions prove that we are more comfortable just liking Him?

Let me put it in another perspective – if the queen of a rich nation of the world made it known to me that she loved me and wanted me to come join her in marriage, wouldn’t I at least be intrigued and want to find out more about her, even if I didn’t yet know her well enough to love her? Or would I immediately dismiss her as some Nigerian scam trying to trick me into sending her money because my heart is hardened against the possibility that it could be true?

It is the same with God.

He came into this world as Jesus Christ, fully man, fully God. He did not come into the world to condemn us, but to save us. Because a price had to be paid, a sacrifice had to be made, a demonstration of His nature had to be performed so that we could understand and appreciate and accept those things of God that are His true nature and being.

Up to that point, man did not have a full revelation of God’s nature and being. Many men had seen the evidence of God in things on this earth and had tried to explain and worship this presence that they knew existed that surpassed themselves. But man’s perspective is limited to his own knowledge and emotions, so a lot of the opinion as to God’s nature was understood by man as wrath, judgement, and law by religions throughout time. They mistakenly saw God as operating in similar ways to men – bartering and trading good for good, bad for bad.

But God doesn’t need anything from us. He is the Almighty creator of all things in heaven and earth. He doesn’t need anything FROM you. But He does want something FOR you. So He offers this gift, almost like we would understand an engagement offering from a great ruler. And He does this because He loves us.

The question is do we love Him back?

Or do we just sort of like Him?

Or do we ignore Him thinking that it is preposterous that God could love me?

No matter how we have treated Him in the past, He is still faithful today, so you can call on the name of Jesus Christ, you can seek Him, and you will receive His gift of love for your life.

I encourage you to seek Him, and find Him, and love Him. Because there will come a day and a time that it is too late, and you will have missed out on this great opportunity.

If your heart is hardened and you can’t see truth in the things that I say, please just try paying to Jesus Christ and asking Him to soften your heart to know His love, to open your eyes to see His Truth, to open your ears to hear the Word of God, and to strengthen you to walk in a new life. This is the greatest healing of all, friend. It is a greater healing even than outward signs of God’s glory and power. So accept this offer of healing in your life, this healing that begins on the inside, and then touches ever part of your renewed life with healing that spreads outward into every area of your life, and even into the lives of those around you.

Be healed today, friend.

Be renewed in Christ.

If you know Christ already, are you in love with Him today? Or do you just like Him? I encourage you to spend time seeking Him today and every day. When you diligently seek Him with purpose and conviction, you will find Him. If you don’t have purpose and conviction, pay and ask Him for it. Ask to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide you, and ask that it be alive and stirred and active in guiding and teaching you. And once the fire is burning, keep tossing logs on the fire in prayer, time in the Word, time spent applying the Word in your life, time spent serving and loving others, time spent in fellowship with other believers, time spent praising God, and time spent spreading this Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

If that sounds like a lot of time spent with Good, YES IT IS! Isn’t that amazing how many ways He offers us to love Him in return? Because if we are seeking God, isn’t that what we are looking for, more time with Him, the one that we love?

Spend time with Him, and find Him faithful and trustworthy in His promises.

I love you, friend. Have a blessed day.

Unity not division in sharing this Good News

Matthew 7:12-14 ESV
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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It isn’t always easy to bridle our tongues when we feel an urge to say something that we know isn’t nice. In fact, when we compare many things that we say to the measuring stick of, “Does it glorify and honor God?” – we find that we fall short. But this is to be our goal, even though we know that we will fall short of perfection.

It also isn’t always easy to control our emotions when something happens that makes us want to lash out at someone in retribution or anger.

But one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is self control, and this is the fruit that is evident when we are in control of our tongues and our emotions.

Our emotions are helpful indicators in life, but they should not be what controls us. Just like our senses provide information to our brains so that we can make a decision about what to do, our emotions should be examined and considered as valuable input about what we should do next. But isn’t it clear that if we let our emotions go unchecked and unexamined, that the reactions that they produce will introduce all kinds of chaos and disorder in our lives?

So we should consider our words and our actions and how they might affect others. I should consider, “Would I like someone to say/do this to me? Would this hurt or help me if I was in their position?”

You hear the statement, “What would Jesus do? ” – and Jesus would say and do whatever is going to bring healing and positive change to a person and a situation.

And for us who share this good news (myself very much included) –

The times that Jesus’ words and actions were healing and gentle were when they were directed at the people. The times that Jesus’ words and actions were those of stern discipline were when He was dealing with the religious leaders of the day. It was the Pharisees who acted in the reverse of this pattern, who accused and judged and condemned the people, while holding themselves up as righteous and above examination.

Jesus Christ also warned his disciples against stopping others who are sharing the gospel and healing in His name:

Mark 9:38-42 NLT
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”
“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said.
“No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.
“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.

So let the greatest examination not be directed at other teachers who are different than ourselves – but the greatest examination should be of ourselves and why we feel that we must speak out against someone else. Because if we let evil slip into our hearts and our words and our actions, even in the name of protecting the gospel – we must decide whether we have bridled our tongue and controlled our emotions. Would we like those same things to be spoken about us? Would we say that they are loving and glorifying God of they were spoken about us?

This is a hard lesson for me, but I am learning. If you think that I have drawn my sword against you, I can promise you this is not pointed by me at any person. If it feels that way, ask if what you are feeling is conviction – because this was a convicting message for me to receive this morning.

Grumbling or Trusting?

Exodus 17:1-6 NLT
At the lord ’s command, the whole community of Israel left the wilderness of Sin and moved from place to place. Eventually they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink. So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the lord ?” But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?” Then Moses cried out to the lord , “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!” The lord said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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How often do we as Christians behave like the Israelites, grumbling and complaining and worrying about our circumstances, full of doubt instead of following faithfully believing His promises?

Also, how often do we as leaders and ambassadors for Christ encounter those who are:
– grumbling , complaining, and worrying
– questioning our own leadership and faith
– not believing and trusting God

And is our reaction like Moses, who realized that the issue at hand was not his own leadership, nor the power of God, but was the lack of belief and faith in the people. Because if we have this Holy Spirit in us and guiding us, and we are sharing and following His guidance, and giving to others what we are taught – they are either unveiled to hear His Word, or they ate veiled and resistant to hearing and applying His Word.

But we do not beat the sheep if they are blind to the path, nor do we beat the sheep if a stumbling block has been paved in front of them. No, if we are following the teachings of the Good Shepherd, we will grow to be like our teacher. So we gently and lovingly offer healing to the blind eyes of the lost sheep which comes with calling on the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and believing, and following. For the sheep that encounter stumbling blocks, we offer instruction and guidance on how to recognize those stumbling blocks – to see that:

– every trial is an opportunity to bear the fruit of patience as a blessed assurance of our faith and of His promises

– tribulation and suffering is an opportunity to bear the fruit of long suffering as a blessed assurance of our faith and of His promises

– persecution is and opportunity to demonstrate kindness and gentleness to those who think themselves to be or enemies, knowing not that we love them as our neighbors and brothers and sisters

And what better witness is there to non-believers than this peace that passes all understanding? This peace that holds us firmly in those times that the world can see clearly that it is not our own strength or our own power that is at work.

So what is our stone today? What is that insurmountable object that people would not expect to see us overcome? That object that we ourselves even do not believe that we can overcome?

There is someone that can overcome that obstacle, and He will use it not only as a witness to our faith, but as a demonstration of His power and glory and honor.

So let’s take it to Christ, hand it to Him in prayer and in faith, and ask that He either strengthen us to overcome, or that He crush it under His power as a miraculous sign to unbelievers, out that He guide us into understanding of His will and direction and purpose for the future.

Help me to follow faithfully.
Help me to remember the blessings of this Grace surpass this displeasure of any trials I might face.
Help me to see and correct those areas in myself that need healing and refinement.
Help me to see and help those around me that I can love and serve.
Help me to stay humble and contrite in heart before the perfect example of Jesus’ life.
Help me stay stirred and aware of this Holy Spirit working inside me.
Help me stay bold in sharing what I am taught and convicted of by the Holy Spirit.
Help me remember that if it is your words and they resist hearing them, that some will hate me because they hated you.
Help me remember that I am still in the flesh and that I should be careful to bridle my own tongue, so that my words are not careless, so that no one will confuse my weak and imperfect words with the perfect message of the Word of God.

Let’s continue to remind and encourage each other and to pray for each other, friends. Have a blessed day, beloved.

Love does no wrong

All things work together for good